Travel: Sun, snorkelling and sightseeing on a family break in Corfu

Travel: Sun, snorkelling and sightseeing on a family break in Corfu

By the time we were heading to Gatwick the very average British summer meant we were really looking forward to a week in the hot Mediterranean sun for some quality family fun and we soon found out we had made the perfect choice.

That moment you get off the plane and that warm breeze hits you. The first cool beer near the pool, or maybe like me, it’s that first dip in the warm sea: it’s that moment when you feel any worries and stresses drift away.

With two young children it was great to have three swimming pools, the beach and a fine choice of food all at the TUI Family Life Kerkyra Golf hotel, meaning for a proper chance to rest and relax.

It’s hard to resist stuffing yourself silly on an all-inclusive holiday. For me it was about three day in that I hit the point where I was so full up that I wasn’t hungry for breakfast. I still had cereal, fruit, a healthy yoghurt and apple and cinnamon water as well as a lovely traditional Greek coffee but I had a day off the sausage, bacon, egg, French toast and pancakes.

Only one day mind.

The food in the main restaurant was different every day so our temptation to eat outside the hotel soon wore off. And the two other restaurants, one Asian and a Greek taverna, were so good that they felt like going out of the hotel anyway.

The key to each and every day was that the children were so happy in the pools and at the beach.

And on top of that the hotel’s entertainment team were on hand to keep them dancing, both poolside and in the evenings.

There were chocolate parties, sports and shows every night at the hotel’s very own amphitheatre.

Each evening started with a children’s show before entertainment for the whole family; greek dancing,a fantastic magic show and songs from the musicals were among the programme while we were there.

Don’t tell the families but blatantly a highlight for me and many of the other men each day was the 5pm football match.

Yes we all strolled across from the beach pretending we were going to have a relaxed kickabout. But it was serious business, tackles flying in and everyone running around like they were 19 years old.

The one day - to my horror - that I missed the match, was for our day trip out on a glass bottomed boat and to the water park Aqualand. Ok fair enough it was worth it. The view of all the fish was amazing, divers swimming up to the boat with lobsters and starfish so that we could take a photograph.

Aqualand had every water slide conceivable to mankind. Narrow shoots that dropped almost vertically from the heavens. Twisting and turning slides that made you feel like you were in that scene in the film The Goonies and a lazy river.

And there were great rides where you could go on a double rubber ring with your children that even our four-year-old son could enjoy.

We also had a wonderful day at Corfu town - after catching a bus from outside the hotel for barely more than a Euro each were there within 20 minutes.

We walked through beautiful narrow lanes teeming with shops and restaurants and had a ride on a horse and carriage, giving us views of the lovely old buildings, so colourful and beautiful, having hardly changed since the days that the English conservationist and author Gerald Durrell lived there.

We found a statue of the author before a really enjoyable walk around the Old Fortress, learning about the periods of Venetian and British rule before finding a small beach near the marina where we could have a swim and cool off.

We would have gone to Corfu town again if it wasn’t so wonderful at the hotel.

The TUI team were always on hand with information and the hotel staff and management made you feel special.

Our abiding memories remain of the long days relaxing in the warm shade of the trees at the water’s edge, our youngest learning to swim and snorkel in his armbands at such a beautiful spot and snorkelling with those Mediterranean fish, which would swim up and eat from your hands if you were patient enough.

Factbox

Corfu – Under £750

TUI offers seven night holidays to Corfu staying at the 4T TUI Family Life Kerkya Golf on an all-inclusive basis from £742 per person. Price is based on two adults and two children sharing and includes flights departing from London Gatwick airport on June 29, 2018 and transfers. To find out more about this holiday or to book visit your local TUI travel shop, tui.co.uk or call 0871 230 2555.

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